HTC Vive Pro

HTC Vive Pro review: Virtual reality without the rough, blurry edges

At $799 for just the headset, the HTC Vive Pro is probably destined to remain a niche product.

HTC Vive Pro review

The HTC Vive Pro is the VR headset successor to the first Vive . The Oculus Rift rival launched almost two years ago and since then the focus has been on making minor upgrades to enhance that VR experience.

HTC Vive Pro review

One thing is clear with the Vive Pro: it’s not a sequel. HTC is marketing this as a high-end alternative for its die-hard fanbase, while slashing the price of the original headset for VR newbies to a more affordable £499. Focusing solely on the hardcore audience then, it’s mission accomplished for the Pro. With the right games virtual worlds look fantastic thanks to the resolution boost, while the improved design and built-in headphones fix a lot of the vanilla Vive’s flaws. It’s expensive (especially if you intend on getting the wireless adapter) and the number of games that get the best out of the Pro is somewhat lacking, but in terms of hardware, the Vive Pro is undoubtedly the best VR headset that you can buy.

HTC Vive Pro

Just seen Ready Player One and gagging for a simple route into the world of virtual reality? Then throw your bank details at another headset – the Vive Pro is not for you.

HTC Vive Pro review review

It may sound like I'm not entirely sold on the HTC Vive Pro but that isn't the case. Sure, it's a lot more expensive than headline price might suggest and it's only an incremental upgrade over Vive VR, but it's undeniably the best VR headset on the market right now.

HTC's Vive Pro meets expectations, but doesn't exceed them

HTC's Vive Pro is the next-gen upgrade of its superb Vive, now known as the Vive ‘VR'. This represents the premium line in virtual-reality gaming headsets, with competitors Oculus, once the market leaders, now lagging behind HTC when it comes to room-scale VR.

perfect

ordered all the way from Saudi Arabia, the shipment took less than estimated and the customer support were kind and fast, the Vive pro itself works great I would order more stuff in the future.

HTC Vive Pro review: More luxury than landmark

The lack of significant differences between the experiences you get out of this and the regular Vive leave the Vive Pro looking more like a luxury product than it is a landmark one. The HTC Vive launched two years ago, it seemed like a side-bet from the Taiwanese tech company. Back then, virtual reality was as much an emerging idea as much as it was an emerging market. However, if their current fiscal condition continues to deteriorate, the Vive may well outlive their smartphones. It hasn’t taken long for the formula for what a modern, consumer-ready VR experience looks like to take a more solid shape - due in no part to the impact and popularity of the original Vive.

HTC Vive Pro Review

Incredible -- and incredibly expensive -- the Vive Pro sets a new standard of quality for virtual reality.